Essay Database

What is a “Civil Right?”: A civil right is an enforceable right or privilege, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for injury. Examples of civil rights are freedom of speech, press, assembly, the right to vote, freedom from involuntary servitude, and the right to equality in public places. Discrimination occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of their relationship in a particular group …

…Bush vetoes a civil rights bill that he argued would impose quotas for employers; weaker bill passes muster in 1991. 1991 -- Civil rights museum opens at King assassination site in Memphis. 1994 -- Byron De La Beckwith convicted of 1963 Medgar Evers assassination. 1995 -- Supreme Court rules that federal programs that use race as a categorical classification must have "compelling government interest" to do so. 1996 -- Supreme Court rules consideration of race in creating congressional districts is unconstitutional.